Tuesday, February 11, 2014

The Transit Referendum, or Be Careful What You Wish For…

We all have our stories about things we
wished for so much, and then once we got them found out it was a burden, not a
gift. Translink would do well to
remember this as they seek new governance and more money from the
province.

All of the mayoral complaints boil down to
the same thing: “the big bad Province won’t give us what we want.” What do they want?

A blank cheque

Complete authority to decide
where to spend it

Where does the province fit into this? They provide item 1. Then go away.

The province, rightfully, said hold on, we
gave you that authority and changed the funding structure so you could own it
15 years ago. But all you did was bicker
for the first 10 years, fight with us when we offered to pay for major
improvements, and blow every gas tax increase we gave you. So we took control back, but still left you
with oversight and final authority. You
want us to go back to the old way and give you more money?

The Mayors should be grateful the province
didn’t spit in their face. To their
credit, the province is willing to discuss governance reform and is willing to
commit 1/3 of costs to new rapid transit systems as well as the Pattullo
replacement as a starting point.

As for other money the province said

It needs to come from your
region (you can’t tax the provinces stuff)

Your people need to agree (hold
a referendum)

This is seen as an offence by those who
consider the province the rich benefactor.
Those of us who lived here prior to 2007 think it’s not a bad check on
their power. Translink is dysfunctional
now? I remember when the cities were in
charge…

A major strike that ended in back to work
legislation. Planning and building
systems on funding not yet committed, let alone in place (federal gas tax,
vehicle levy), the blaming everyone else when they have to make ‘cuts.’ Every time the province has come with funding
for a major system, the board or equivalent fought with the province pushing
for their own agenda instead of working with the province. Despite that, they
have managed to find and gain significant funding from a variety of sources such as

Increased fares, fuel and
property taxes ($80 million / year)

Increase parking sales tax from
7% to 21%

Expand parking taxes to cover
all off street parking $18 million / year (later replaced with more property
tax)

New Deal for Cities ($60
million / year)

Additional 3 cent gas tax

Regular property tax and fare increases

As well, Translink did pass the vehicle
levy in an attempt to generate additional funding. But the NDP pulled the rug out from this.

I think it speaks volumes that all rapid
transit in Metro Vancouver has been driven by the province. Expo Line?
Mid-80’s, transit was fully provincial. Millenium Line? Put together by the province just as
Translink was being created. Canada
Line? Shoved down Translink’s throat by
the province. Evergreen Line? Finally going with the provincially appointed
Board of Director’s. Curiously, most of those
were done under Liberal/Socred governments.
All this in a period when the federal government was practically shoving
money out the door for infrastructure improvement.

In short: the region wanted control over
transit funding and operations and the province to butt out. They got it and then some, trading provincial funding for municipal taxes and control over
those taxes and operation. But, surprise surprise, 22 municipalities
couldn’t agree on what to do or how to do it.
To their credit, after 10 years the province recognized this and put an
end to it. Enter cries of ‘undemocratic’
etc.

The province is doing what it needs to do.
It is responsible for inter-municpal transport, and can’t let the region or
province wither while the Mayors bicker.
This is a ‘crisis’ of the Mayor’s own creation. First by insisting on control, then by failing
to manage it, and finally by whining when taken to task for it.

If anything, this demonstrates why these
major transit initiatives and inter-municipal transport should remain with the
province. Translink and the
municipalities have shown them incapable of managing it to date. The first step to getting back on track
would be to take this referendum as an opportunity. Stop whining about it. Todd Stone’s letter calls for the Mayors to define a vision
with priorities and costs. The vision
thing is good – we've done that a dozen times by now. What we need are for the Mayors to hammer out
priorities and costs.

So Mayors - we all want better transit for
the region, and I believe most of us are willing to pay for it. I certainly am.
But before we cut you the cheque, show us that you can work together as a region. Show us what you’re going to buy with our
money, when we’re going to get it, and how it will improve things for us. If it’s reasonable, we’ll give you the money. But if you’re not willing to do that, then
you don’t deserve it, and we all will suffer for your pride.